Lowell Library Newsletter
January 2024
Library Literacy Traditions
Hello Lowell Families and Caregivers!
Lowell School Literacy Week is just around the corner. This year we celebrate family literacy traditions. Here in the library we have our own literacy traditions such as read-alouds, retellings, or, even, retellings using coding. Our celebration this year includes visits from two different author/ illustrators who speak to the students about their creative process for bringing a book to life. Our read-alouds this month included their titles highlighting a family tradition.
Curriculum Corner
Our curriculum is a combination of library, digital learning , and computer science. Each year we build on previous year's work and expand our understanding in all three areas.
February 2024 Curriculum Guide K-5
Kindergarten
- Mo Willems Author Study
- Characters
- Retelling
- Opinion
First Grade
- Genre Study: Elements of a Biography
- Historical Context
- Chronological Order
- Significant Contributions
Second Grade
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- Writing a Basic Citation for a Book
- Google Docs Formatting and Inserting Images
Third Grade
- Lego WeDo Wrap Up
- Google Slides Scavenger Hunt
Fourth Grade
- Identifying Primary and Secondary Sources
- Analyzing primary source photographs for information
Fifth Grade
- Google Searching
- Boolean Operators
- Online News Sources
Read Aloud Selection K-5 ππππ
This month we've read books by our visiting authors, biographies, and kindergarten learned about the author Mo WIllems.
The Breaking News
by Sarah Lynne Reul
Knuffle Bunny
By Mo Willems
I, Matthew Henson
by Carole Weatherford Boston
Alma and How She Got Her Name
Tomatoes for Neela
Bubbie & Rivka's Best-Ever Challah (so Far!)
Who Do We Love as Much as Trixie Loves Knuffle Bunny?
Primary Source Analysis
Fourth graders learn about primary and secondary sources as part of their learning about reference sources and how to utilize them for research and information. We start by discussing the difference between a primary and secondary source and identifying common examples of each. We learn to analyze historical photos for information. The final activity is our Historical Detectives activity. Students work in groups to try and figure out what their mystery object is and what it was used for.
Students are asked to analyze this picture for information and then compare and contrast the school in the photo with school today.
Digital Citizenship @ Home
3-5 Media Balance and Well Being Home Activity
Helping kids learn what makes different media choices healthy or not is a good start. But how do we help them actually make responsible choices in the real world? Give your students the opportunity to create a personalized media plan.
Plugged in Parents: Grades K-8
How do we use media in balance as
a family, find quality content, set expectations around healthy use to prevent conflict, and raise media savvy consumers and creators?
Padres Conectados: Grados K-5
ΒΏCΓ³mo balancear el uso de los medios en familia, buscar contenido de calidad, establecer expectativas sobre el uso saludable de la tecnologΓa para evitar conflictos, y criar jΓ³venes que sean consumidores y creadores inteligentes de los medios?
Contact Lowell Library
Email: kelly.mccollum@watertown.k12.ma.us
123 Lowell Street Watertown, MA 02472
Find Us Online:
@jrlowellreads